19.

INVESTIGATIONS
PATTERNS IN MATHEMATICS
Mathematics has often been referred to as the study
of patterns and relationships. In this chapter, we shall
focus on this aspect of mathematics. In particular, we
will be investigating number sequences and spatial
patterns. In doing so, we will learn how to predict the
next term in a sequence and to derive the rule for the
sequence.
Continuing a pattern
A basic skill in studying patterns is the ability to
predict the next term in the sequence. A term here
refers to a number or a shape. Here is a basic
sequence of shapes in which the first three shapes are
drawn.
In the third column, we observe that:
• each term in the sequence starts with one.
• the number of three’s to be added is always
one less than the pattern number.
This pattern enables us to determine the number of
squares in the 12th pattern as or any desired pattern
number, say, n.
We could have deduced the nth term in the sequence
using another method. Since each term exceeds the
preceding one by at least 3, we can deduce that the
pattern is of the form:
𝑡 = 3𝑛 + 𝑚
where t is the total number of squares in the pattern
number, n is the pattern number and m is a constant
to be determined.
We can now substitute values of n and t given in the
table find these constants.

Consider 𝑡 = 3𝑛 + 𝑚

When 𝑛 = 2, 𝑡 = 4: Check when 𝑛 = 3, 𝑡 = 7

So, 4 = 3(2) + 𝑚, So, 7 = 3(3) + 𝑚,
To draw the next shape in the pattern we observe 𝑚 = 4 − 6 = −2 𝑚 = 7 − 9 = −2
what has changed from Figure 1 to Figure 2 and this
change must be repeated from Figure 2 to Figure 3. We confirm that 𝑡 = 3𝑚 − 2
In this sequence, three squares are added to the
previous shape – two at opposite ends and one on the
top. The fourth shape will look like this.
Now let us examine another pattern. Assume that
matchsticks are used to form the shapes in the three
figures below.

If we are required to determine the number of squares

in a given pattern we need to generate a sequence in
which the number of squares is counted and recorded.

Pattern Number of Number of Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Number squares (by squares (by
counting) pattern)
1 1 1 To draw the next two shapes in the pattern we
2 4 1+3 observe that the change in length of the side of each
3 7 1+3+3 square in the sequence. These lengths would form the
4 10 1+3+3+3 number sequence 1, 2, 3, …

12 1+ 11(3) Hence, the next two shapes in the sequence would be

n 1 + (𝑛 − 1) × 3 squares with sides 4 and 5.
= 3𝑛 − 2

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We can now draw the next two shapes to continue the
pattern.
and so on.
In column 4 below. the number of matchsticks in any
Figure is expressed as:
𝑚 = 𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑜.× (3 + 𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑜. )
𝑚 = 𝑛(3 + 𝑛)
We can now complete the table for the number of
matchsticks in the 10th and nth term of the sequence.

Figure 𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
Number Pattern 1 Pattern 2
1 4 1×4 1 × (3 + 1)
2 10 2×5 2 × (3 + 2)
3 18 3×6 3 × (3 + 3)
We next examine the number of matchsticks in each
4 28 4×7 4 × (3 + 4)
pattern. This forms the sequence:
5 40 5×8 5 × (3 + 5)
4, 10, 18, …

In the table below, we enter the Figure number in the 10 130 10 × 13 10(3 + 10)
first column. 𝑛 𝑛(3 + 𝑛)
In column 2 we record the length of the side of each Example 1
square – note this sequence is the same as the Figure The diagram below shows the first three figures in
numbers, 1, 2, 3, …, etc. a sequence. Each figure is an isosceles triangle made
with a rubber band stretched around pins in a
Figure Length of side Number of
geoboard. The pins are one unit apart.
Number of square matchsticks in the
figure (𝑚)
1 1 4
2 2 4 + 6 =10
3 3 10 + 8 =18
4 4 18 + 10 =28
5 5 28 + 12 =40
(a) Draw the fourth figure in the sequence.
In column 3 we record the number of matchsticks in (b) Complete the table by inserting the missing values
each figure. Notice that unlike the previous sequence, at the rows marked (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
the numbers do not increase by a fixed value.
However, there is a pattern – the second term can be Figure Area of No. of Pins on
obtained by adding 6, the third by adding 8, the Triangle Base
fourth by adding 10, the fifth by adding 12, and so
1 1 (2 × 1) + 1 = 3
on.

This pattern enables us to calculate a term provided 2 4 (2 × 2) + 1 = 5

that we know the previous term but it does not give
us the rule for the sequence. To establish a rule for 3 9 (2 × 3) + 1 = 7
the nth term of this sequence will require some more
analysis. 4

When the pattern is not a simple one, some 100

information is given so that the rule can be predicted.
Examine the patterns shown in columns 3. In column 20
3, the total number of matchsticks, m is expressed as:
𝑚4 = 𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 × 4 n
𝑚> = 𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 × 5
𝑚@ = 𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 × 6

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Solution Solution

(i) The fourth figure in the sequence of figures is: (i) Fourth figure

(ii) The completed table is:

Figure Area of No. of Pins on

Triangle Base
1 1 (2 × 1) + 1 = 3 Example 2 (ii)

2 4 (2 × 2) + 1 = 5 (ii) Study the patterns in the table shown below,

and complete the rows numbered a), b), c) and
3 9 (2 × 3) + 1 = 7 d).
Figure Area Perimeter
4 4> = 16 (2 × 4) + 1 = 9
1 1 4

√100 100 (2 × 10) + 1 = 21 2 4 10

= 10 3 9 16

20 20> = 400 (2 × 20) + 1 = 41 a) 4

b) 8
n 𝑛> 2𝑛 + 1
c) 25
d) n
Example 2
Solution 2(ii)
The diagram below shows the first three figures in The numbers in the first column represent the
a sequence of figures. Each figure is made up of number of squares in the pattern. By squaring
squares of side 1 unit. these numbers, we obtain the values for the area.

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 The values in the column labelled perimeter are
all increasing by 6.

Pattern Number Perimeter

2 10 = 4+6
3 16 = 4+6+6
4 22 = 4+6+6+6

Notice the number of sixes to be added each time

is one less than the pattern number.
(i) Draw the fourth figure in the sequence.

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Solution 2(ii)- continued Solution- Example 3(a) and (b)

If n represents the figure number, then the (a) Figure 4

perimeter is
4 + (𝑛 − 1) × 6
This can be simplified to 4 + 6𝑛 − 6 = 6𝑛 − 2

Therefore, when 𝑛 = 8, 𝑃 = 6 × 8 − 2 = 46

Hence, when 𝑛 = 20, 𝑃 = 6 × 20 − 2 = 118

The completed table is shown below.

Figure Area Perimeter

1 1 4 (b) We notice that in the column for formula, the

expression is always
2 4 10 5 (No. of the figure + 1) – 5
3 9 16 Hence the completed table is:

a) 4 16 22 Figure Total Number of Dots

(f) Formula Number (n)
b) 8 64 46 1 5´ 2 - 5 5

c) 20 400 118
2 5´ 3 - 5 10
3 5´ 4 - 5 15
d) n n2 6𝑛 − 2 4 Not Required Not Required
5 5 × (5 + 1) -5 25
6 5 × (6 + 1) -5 30
Example 3

A number sequence may be formed by counting

the number of dots shown on the perimeter of
hexagons. Example 3 (c) and (d)

(c) Write an expression in f for the number (n) of

dots used in drawing the f th figure.
(d) Which figure in the sequence contains 145 dots

Solution 3 (c) and (d)

(a) Draw Figure 4, the next figure in the sequence.
(c) The number of dots, n, in the f th figure is
(b) Complete the table below by inserting the
given by (as shown above).
information in the rows numbered (i) and (iii)
𝑛 = 5𝑓
Figure Total Number of Dots
(d) The figure in the sequence containing 145 dots.
(f) Formula Number (n)
The number of dots n = 145
1 5´ 2 - 5 5
145 = 5f
2 5´ 3 - 5 10 f = 145 ÷ 5
3 5´ 4 - 5 15 =29
4 Not Required Not Required There are 145 dots in the 29th figure.
5
6

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